~~21~~15~~12~~

Whewwee! I think I did it again!! Three of my children's birthdays..two very close friends birthdays....Halloween, and a quick trip out of town with my sweet mother and daughter.Also....two violin recitals and one major concert..... Now....let the festivities begin!!!!!

Don't You Just Love 'Em?

Nandina Bushes That Is.

I never really paid attention to these bushes before we moved to our current home, but now, they have become some of my very favorites.

 I LOVE how their berries are white in the summer, orange in the fall and brillant red at Christmas. Not to mention the fact that the berries are PROLIFIC!

 I use them to decorate with all year. Their green and red leaves are great for fillers too.

Think I'll keep several of these in my yard from no on....no matter where we go.
Have a lovely evening friends! Many blessings~~~~Shine~~~~

Ghoolies

This year I've done something a little different. For years our family really hasn't celebrated Halloween.I just kinda felt it was a little weird celebrating ghools and goblins. Instead choosing to celebrate the goodness and beauty that God created. We have always done lots in the way of "fall festivals"......going over and beyond with decorating and celebrating everything autumn. I didn't think bad of people celebrating Halloween...just thought we were different, and that's OK. This year Anna wanted to craft some Halloween something or another. So.....In the October issue of Country Living they had these super cute ghosts. 

  There are really good instructions and we had alot of fun spending the afternoon together. We hung them in our dining room on the chandelier and we call them Anna's friendly ghosts. I would truly still rather just celebrate fall and harvest, but I also know that Anna will only be a child a short while. So for now....these little fellows join us at meal time, and school time. Then, before you know it, Halloween will be gone and a little girl will be a little older.

~~~~~Autumn~~~~~

 I am SO loving this weather. Life is always busy...doesn't seem to slow down for anything, BUT! at least in the midst of the busyness, we have all this BEAUTIFUL weather!!!!! And the smells, just everywhere you go are delightful. Thought I show a few of my favorite things here at home

 Here in Tn, the temperature is just now getting cool enough for a cozy fire...so...soon these lights will be replaced with a real flame, but for summer and early fall...they are so cute and can really "homey" up a cold fire box.

 Anna and I made these cute pumpkins last Sat. afternoon....quick and easy. Think we'll make lots more....all different shapes and sizes.

 Last year a sweet friend gave me these gorgeous flowers. Just dug them out and plopped them in my little pewter pitcher.....CUTE!!!

 Sophie likes this snuggie place...also just happens to be one of my favorites too:)

Aren't these warm colors lovely?

Have a beautiful evening sweet friends.

Blessings~Shine

More yumminess

I told you last week how I LOVE apple pie and autumn...and anything that has to do with this awesome season and it's sights, smells and sounds. Mmmmmm. Anything apple is good isn't it?

 These little apple pies are so easy and delicious. Anna and I love making them and the boys LOVE eating    them!!

                 Aren't they pretty? Baked........ so you don't feel QUITE as guilty as the fried version:)

 Light and crispy......the crust has powedered sugar and butter so you can imagine it's delicious richness.

 They look beautiful set out...that is if you can keep the male species away from them long enough to plate them!

Here's the quick and easy recipe. Enjoy!! And have a beautiful autumn day in the Lord!

With much love,

Shine

Baked Apple Pies

For shell

2 & 2/3 cups ap flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter

4 to 6 Tblsp cold water

Mix dry. ingredients well. Cut in butter then add cold water to make dough.

Apple Filling

About 4 cups apples

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. butter.

Cook all together till apples are soft. Cool before making pies.

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 Tblsp. milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix and drizzle over pies when cool

To make the pies:

Roll dough on floured surface.

Use a saucer to cut small rounds, then spoon cooled pie filling(about 2 Tblsp) .

Fold over and crimp edges.

Bake pies at 375 about 20 minutes. 

Makes about 12 pies.

Bloggy Award!!

Friday, September 24, 2010. Blog Award
I'm happy to show off the blog award   The Charm of Home gave me!

                                               


These awards are a great way to show others that you are interested in what they have to contribute to the blogosphere, and showcase some of the people you follow.

The rules for winning this award are as follows:

* Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

* Share 7 things about yourself.

* Pass the award along to 15 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fabulous.

* Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award.


Special thanks to The Charm of Home for this award. Please check out her site.



7 things about me:

1. I have lived in TN for 22 of my 28 married years. Born in TN, lived in several other souther states.

2. One of my favorite movies is "Pride and Prejudice."

3. I am listening to The Erik Baker Band--on my Bose today.

4. Last night I was listening to Tchaikovsky in conert at The Tennessee Theatre.

5. I have four very musically talented children.

6. When it comes to the written word I have a lot of favorites: The Bible, Gabaldon, Gene Stratton Porter, Edith Holden, Beth Moore, Francine Rivers, CS Lewis,  just to name a few.


7.One of my favorite movies this past year was "Robin Hood."


 I'll pick a few blogs I read, although I have MANY, just can't list them all. I find new and amazing bloggers everyday and I am very blown away by all of the talent I keep finding in so many of you. It was really hard to just pick 15. I wanted to show case several new ones too. Inspiration abounds! Please forgive me if you don't participate in these things.

Peaches and Posh
Homebody Holly
Domestically Speaking
Moonshine Love
Flower Patch Farm Girl
The Style Sisters
My Home Sanctuary
Daisy Cottage
DebBieDoos
LeChateau des fleurs
With All My Heart...Deborah
It's Just Dottie
Counting Your Blessings
Vintage Linen Treasures
Gypsy (On my Mind)
My Gramma's Soul


Edited to add: If you want to pass along the award, it is okay to copy this post. Just use Ctrl C and Ctrl V to copy and paste the post and insert it into a new post on your blog and edit it as you need to.

Mmmm Mmmm Good!

I truly love Autumn. It is one of my most favorite seasons....for so many reasons. One reason of course, the cooler temperatures. I am NOT a hot weather girl. In fact, I could probably live in Alaska, but here in Tennessee, well, we have really nice weather. Summers aren't too bad and neither are the winters. USUALLY. Sometimes we have extremes with both. I generally don't like temps any higher than the low 80's, but this has been our hottest summer on record with more days in the 90's than ever...including today!!!. So the cooler temperatures that come with the autominal equinox make me swoon. One of my favorite fall pastimes is making apple pie in a jar with my sweet daughter. Love the smells....and just seeing all those beautiful jars in the cupboard brings joy.

                                       
              Aren't they pretty? Feels good too, knowing we'll be having warm, delicious pie all winter.

                                                          Apple Pie in a Jar

4&1/2 cups sugar                        Warm jars in oven. Peel, slice and soak apples in lemon water or
1 cup cornstartch                         fruit fresh. Stir 1st. five ingred. together in a large pot. Add water
3-4 tsps. cinnamon                       Cook over med. heat till thick and bubbly. Remove from heat.
1/2 tsp nutmeg                             Add lemon juice and set aside. Pack apples in hot jars leaving
1 tsp salt                                      one in. headspace. Pour hot syrup over apples leaving 1/2 in. Put  
10 cups water                              on lids . Place in hot water bath for 20 minutes.
3 Tblsp. lemon juice
5-6 lbs. apples

                                                                 FOR PIE
Prepare crust. Fill with apple pie in a jar. Top with: 1/2 cup oatmeal~1 cup flour~1/2 cup brown sugar~1tsp cin. ~1 stick of butter. Mix all together and crumble over top of apple pie mixture.
Bake @ 375 for 40 minutes.
Oh my goodness good!

                                                  
                                       Can't you just smell this yumminess???? It was good girls!!
Also made tons of yummy apple butter. YUMMO!! Think we'll have some of that for breakfast.....Ben may have pie:) But apples aren't the only thing I love about Autumn....Love ALL the smells and the cool crisp air~~~this week-end they say we may have a day with a high of only 79!! Yippee!! I'm am seriously excited!! Hopefully I can post about my many favorites I treasure this season. Have a blessed day girls!! And                                                   Happy Autumn!!!!!!!!!!!